Summer 2025 Auction Preview (#1311773)

The SS-Totenkopfverbände began as guard forces of concentration camps.  They were not part of the Waffen-SS until absorbed later during the period.  These boards belonged to a Major (Sturmbahnführer) in the unit, denoted by the field grade weave boards.  The "2" cipher indicates the specific unit.  Formed in 1937 in Oranienburg.  By 1937 consisted of 6 Sturmbannen.  Some of these troops saw service during the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938.  In 1939 sent to Poland for police units "rear area actions" (early Holocaust actions) and were used to infill various units during the war.  Extremely rare I have never seen or owned a pair.  This pair came from a box of otherwise insignificant boards that were part of the estate of a collector.